RIC Biweekly Newsletter
Grant landscape changes, updates, and trends
Our sector continues to reel from changes to the grant landscape. We’re monitoring updates and taking the pulse from our partners and peers. Here’s some of the big news, our hot takes, and resources to help your organization adapt.
On May 2, the Trump Administration released its “skinny budget.” This is just the Trump Administration’s wish list, so to speak. Congress holds the power of the purse. That said, so far we have underestimated the scope and speed of the changes that the administration has made, and the President wields an unusual amount of influence over the current Congress. And, there is a Republican trifecta. I’m not sure we’ve been here before.
▶️ The federal discretionary budget would total $1.7 trillion, a 7.6% cut from the current fiscal year.
▶️ The justifications attack DEI, efforts to fight climate change, trans people, and more.
▶️ It’s clear that the administration has a vendetta against major institutions like universities, including Howard.
▶️ While slashing funds for research, international aid, education, and health care, there’s a $1B slush fund created for…wait for it…travel to Mars.
This is a high-level budget summary, but we saw cuts and changes proposed for the Office on Violence Against Women. We will be on the lookout for further analysis and impact on victim services when a more detailed budget proposal is released.
In the meantime, we want to stress how it important it is to reach out to your elected officials at every level — from federal to local — and let them know how these changes will impact your organization, your community, and your family. Raise your voice and fight back.
What else you need to know:
In April, the Department of Justice canceled over 365 grants totaling over $800M in federal funds.
The Office on Violence Against Women started to release funding opportunities again. 19 are out and 14 are to be released as of this newsletter. Contact us if you’d like to apply.
The so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act proposes substantial cuts to social services, new taxes on foundations and universities, and rollbacks to climate policies to help fund tax cuts and increased immigration enforcement. While some argue that tax cuts will increase donations, historically this has not been the case, and the cuts to social services threaten many of the communities our clients serve.
New resources we recommend:
Nonprofits and the New Administration from ProBono Partnership of Atlanta
Movement Lessons from the First 100 Days from the Movement Building Project
The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta’s Resource Hub to equip organizations and donors with relevant tools and information.
The page provides articles and insights on topics like:
Understanding the impact on nonprofits
Resources for nonprofits navigating funding uncertainty
Metro Atlanta nonprofit supportive services
Federal policy changes such as executive orders, funding freezes and other actions are directly impacting metro Atlanta organizations and households.
Atlanta Civic Circle is here to listen and understand what’s happening on the ground. They’re launching two surveys to gather objective, fact-based insights across the five-county metro: Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. Click here to share your experience:
100 Days In, Trump Blocks At Least $430 Billion Dollars in Funding Owed to American People
DOGE Cuts by City, State, and Congressional District | GrantStation
New Matching Donation Platform
MatchNice makes donation matching easy, transparent, and accessible for nonprofits. Here’s a 2-minute demo. If it looks interesting, email Betty@resurgensimpact.com for an introduction to their CEO!
They also have a cool podcast The Nonprofit Lab
Match Any Nonprofit
We just launched the first-ever matcher search engine! It’s a big step forward in helping nonprofits connect with generous supporters like you.
Here’s how it works:
Search for any registered US nonprofit that you want to support.
Select your intended match amount and submit the form.
We reach out to the nonprofit on your behalf to activate your match.
Pretty nifty, right? If there’s a cause close to your heart, give it a spin! We’re your friendly neighborhood matchmaker, ready to help you double your impact.
Welcome our Newest Grant Consultant,
Johanna St. John!
Johanna aims to move toward justice and community in all areas of her life. Professionally, this means empowering organizations working toward equity and creating vibrant, diverse spaces in their communities. She holds a particular interest in supporting organizations working on issues of immigration, medical debt, and environmental justice.
Johanna began her career in the arts, earning her Bachelors in Classical Saxophone Performance from The Ohio State University. She then earned her Masters in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University where she discovered a passion for supporting non-profits across disciplines through research-based management and grant writing. Over the last ten years, she has worked as Grants Administrator at Montana’s largest foundation and written grants for human services, arts & culture, mental health, and community organizers, youth programs, small businesses, and places of worship. She is a committee member of the Central Ohio Chapter of the Grant Professionals Association.
Outside the office, Johanna enjoys gardening, amateur woodworking, yoga, hiking, and all things cozy. On a rainy evening, you might find her baking banana bread and doing a puzzle with friends and a campy movie.
New! Your One-Stop Events Hub
Our new Events Page is now live, featuring upcoming Office Hours, trainings, and opportunities to build strategy, refine your funding approach, and connect with other mission-driven leaders.
It’s easy to browse, simple to register, and regularly updated—so you never miss what matters.
🔗 RIC Events Page and bookmark it for next time.
